With a wind-chill factor of minus 2 degrees and a whole lot of snow on the ground, some families opted Sunday for some outside fun versus staying inside in the warmth of their home.

The Lake Villa Township Park’s sledding hill was busy with children and adults alike flying past each other on sleds of different shapes, colors and sizes.

The bitter cold didn’t keep John Olson and his four children, ranging in age from 3 to 12, from having a fun-filled family day in the powdered snow, which at times betrayed their feet and made them tumble down as they walked up the sledding hill.

The Round Lake Beach father said he’s in school studying nursing and doesn’t get to spend as much time as he’d like with the children, so the idea of going sledding was welcomed by everyone in the family.

“It’s better than staying home,” said 12-year-old Vincent Quinonez.

Although Olson is from North Michigan and said the cold doesn’t bother him much, the ice that formed on his facial hair was a giveaway that indeed it was freezing.

Taking turns, the family slid dozens of times solo or with a partner Sunday. They also played games without their sleds.

“I like making snow angels with my body,” said 5-year-old Nathalie Olson.

Michael Vanderbosch of Lake Villa was out with his 14-year-old son Ethan making sure he was safe as he snowmobiled on a trail at the Lake Villa park.

Vanderbosch said he is not a fan of the arctic weather, but his son wanted to use the toy and so he obliged, but only after bundling up in a snowsuit.

The trails go for miles and into Wisconsin, but Ethan knows to only go for a couple of miles in and always pay attention to landmarks so he can make his way back safely. He also has a cell phone with him in case of an emergency, Vanderbosch said.

Yadira Sanchez Olson/News-Sun

The Olson family enjoys snow activities at the Lake Villa Township Park on Sunday, Jan. 27.

Over at Harts Hill Park in Round Lake, more families braved the frigid weather for snow activities.

Herandy Reyes of Lake Villa was sledding with her two older daughters — Crystal Reyes and Ashley Gutierrez, both age 9, while her husband kept her 2-year-old cozy and warm in the car.

“All weekend cooped up is no good for us, so we came out just to get out of the house,” Reyes said.

Adding that they would only be there for about a half-hour, the two girls said the weather didn’t actually feel as cold when they were trekking up the hill in their winter coats and about three layers of clothing underneath.

"It's really fun when you go down on your stomach (because) then you can feel everything," Ashley said.

Recreational outdoor activities may have to come to a halt for a while in the days ahead.

According to the National Weather Service, a period of heavy snow was scheduled to fall through the night and into early Monday.

There's also a warning of dangerous cold weather this week. The temperature was expected to rise to about 31 degres by 9 a.m. Monday, then fall to around 15 degrees the remainder of the day.

According to the National Weather Service, on Monday night there will be a 20 percent chance of snowfall before midnight. It will be mostly cloudy with a low around minus 1 degree, with a windchill factor as low as minus 19.

Yadira Sanchez Olson/News-Sun

Sixteen-year-old Christian Gomez of Lake Villa takes a tumble as he snowboards down a hill in Round Lake on a frigid Sunday, Jan. 27.

Sixteen-year-old Christian Gomez of Lake Villa takes a tumble as he snowboards down a hill in Round Lake on a frigid Sunday, Jan. 27. (Yadira Sanchez Olson/News-Sun)